Dental appliance



NOV. 30, 1943. K,MOB| EY 2,335,298

DENTAL APPLIANCE Filed Aug. 29, 1942 NVENTOR. EW/.5' m MOBLEY A.' ATTORNEYJ Patented Nov. 30, 1943 UNIT ED STATE S ENLT OFFICE DENTAL APPLIANCE Lewis K. Mobley, New York, N. Y.

Application August 29, 194.2, Serial No. 456,603

3 Claims. (Cl. 32-59)` The present invention relates to dental appliances and embodies, more specifically, an improved appliance by means of which teeth may be effectively cleaned and blemishes and stains removed.

Numerous devices of this character have heretofore been provided, such devices including the use of rotating buffers to remove stains and the like from teeth but various disadvantages arise in connection with the use of `these available devices, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism by means of which stains may be removed from teeth in a sanitary and effective manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the above character wherein means is provided to steady the device and permit it to be guided properly over the tooth surface to accomplish edectively the cleaning operation.

The foregoing objects are attained by providing a rotatable spindle with a casing having a supporting element such that the spindle may be effectively controlled during the cleaning operation, the supporting element comprising a post or other element that rests upon a convenient part of the face and enables the spindle and cleaning element to be controlled effectively during the cleaning operation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as it is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation showing a device constructed in accordance with the present invention and indicating the manner in which the device is used in cleaning teeth:

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3 and looking inthe direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of a cleaning element that may he used on the device shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the above drawing and more particularly to Figs. l, 2, 3 andk 4, the device will be seen as including a handle Ill provided with a supporting plate I I formed with a peripheral flange I2 and a central boss I3. The Bange I2 forms a compartment I4 within which a mounting post I5 is provided, the post being secured permanently within the base plate I I. Upon the post l5 a spindle I6 is journaled, the spindle being formed with a pulley I1 adapted to receive an endless cord I8 in order that the spindle may be rotated by pulling the cord. The cord I8 extends downwardly and upon opposite sides of the boss I3 and, as illustrated in Fig. 2, provides a convenient element which can be pulled downwardly to rotate the spindle I6 periodically. The cord I8 may be of any suitable length, the length determining the extent of rotation of the spindle I6 during each period of rotation when the device is being used.

The spindle I6 may be hollow as shown in Fig. 3, and thus serve as a chuck or socket member t0 receive cleaning appliances such as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. In Fig. 1, the cleaning appliance is shown as being a brush I9 provided with a cylindrical base 20 that fits snugly within the socket formed by the hollow spindle I6 to be driven by the spindle through frictional contact.

In Fig. 5, the cleaning appliance is illustrated as a rubber or other ilexible member 2| having grooved or roughened surfaces 22 and provided with a base 23 similar to the base 20.

A cover plate 24 ts over the flange I2 to enclose the mechanism as illustrated in Fig. 2, and is secured in position by means of a post 25 that is secured permanently within the boss I3 and formed with a threaded end 25. Over the post 25, a sleeve 2l is provided, the sleeve being held in position by means of a nut 28, threaded on the threads 26 and formed with a flange 29 that overlies the end of the sleeve 21.

In operation, the post 25, sleeve 2l, and nut 28 form a support which rests upon the chin, as illustrated in Fig. 1, to permit the cleaning appliance to be guided properly over the surface of the teeth. As this is being done, the cord I8 is repeatedly pulled and the cleaning appliance is thus rotated against the tooth surface. This results in the effective cleaning of the teeth and enables objectionable stains to be easily removed.

While the invention has been described with specic reference to the structure shown in the accompanying drawing, it is not to be limited except as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A dental appliance comprising a, hand support formed with a recess, a. post in the recess, a spindle journaled on the post, a pulley on the spindle, an endless cord over` the pulley and extending outside of the recess, a cover for the recess, a supporting post on the cover, and means to secure the last named post and cover in position, said supporting post extending generally parallel to the spindle and positioned to be engageable With a users chin when the appliance is operated.

2. A dental appliance comprising a hand support, a rotatable spindle on the support, means to mount a, cleaning appliance on the spindle, means to rotate the spindle, and a supporting post on the first-named support spaced from the spindle and positioned to engage the users chin to aid in guiding the device in operation.

3. A dental appliance comprising a hand support, a rotatable spindle on the support, means to mount a, cleaning appliance on the spindle, means to rotate the spindle, and a supporting post on the first-named support spaced from the spindle lying generally parallel thereto and positioned to engage the users chin t0 aid in guid- 10 ing the device in operation.

LEWIS K. MOBLEY. 

